Our History

The idea of the Malaysian Culture Group was first mooted by an American, Betty Thomas who moved to KL from Bangkok where she was actively involved in the Museum Group. MCG began as a study group and quickly started having lectures on religion, history and handicrafts. This all happened in early 1978.  They wanted to keep the group small avoiding all the red tape of registration, elections, audited accounts, etc. but it soon became quite apparent that a group such as this filled a definite need in KL as the response was very good and there were obviously many people who shared the same desire of broadening one's understanding and appreciation of Malaysian history and culture. Because of the number of people wanting to participate, the MCG had to become a registered NGO and in 1982 it was formally registered, with Datin Kay Hashim as the first elected Chairman (President). Explorers began in 1985 and the book group several years after that. And as they say the rest is history.